Bayswater confident in national finals clash

Sep 15, 2017

Football West News

Bayswater City will make their second appearance in the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues National Finals Series when they take on Victorian league winners Heidelberg United at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium on Sunday.

City, whose last attempt in the National Finals Series ended in a heartbreaking Grand Final loss to Blacktown City in 2015, will go into the match on a high after claiming the Night Series title, PS4 NPLWA league and McInerney Ford Top Four Cup in a sensational 2017.

But coach Chris Coyne’s side are also mindful of the threat posed by Heidelberg.

“We always go into games feeling confident because we’ve got a team of winners, so they’re always backing themselves in,” said Coyne, whose side will play the match at the home of Inglewood United due to competition regulations.

“We’ve made them aware of Heidelberg and what their strengths will be but we’re going to concentrate on us like we do every week.”

Heidelberg have had little time to prepare for the match with their Westfield FFA Cup campaign coming to an end in midweek.

“It’s been a tough week for Heidelberg,” Coyne said.

“They had their NPL final against Bentleigh on Sunday and played Adelaide United on Wednesday night, which is never easy, so it’s not a great preparation for them, and only time will tell.

“We know it’s going to be a tough test on Sunday, we respect Heidelberg, they’re a big club with a great history and they’ve got some big players.

“But we’ve been on a good run of form for the last few months now so it’s a matter of keeping the boys fit and ready to go.”

Heidelberg will bring some familiar faces to Perth with former Sorrento defender Lewis Hall and Perth SC defender Josh Wilkins in their line-up on Sunday.

The PS4 NPL Finals Series brings together the eight teams who finished top of their respective PS4 NPL standings at the end of their regular seasons to determine Australia’s best PS4 NPL side.

The match between Bayswater and Heidelberg kicks off at 12pm.

The winner of the PS4 NPL 2017 Finals Series will receive automatic entry into the Round of 32 of the Westfield FFA Cup 2018, providing an added incentive for the eight clubs taking part.